Hope Sippola Shayne Zurilgen in Fiery Ginger Farm Nursery

about

Spork Food Hub was started by Hope Sippola and Shayne Zurilgen (co-owners of Fiery Ginger Farm) in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic as a response to supply chain challenges that schools in the Sacramento Region were facing.

Created as a solution to ease school food procurement, Spork Food Hub has since expanded to supply fresh local produce to dozens of school districts, universities, food security programs, hospitals, and other institutions. We work with over 60 (and counting!) local family farms to provide nutrient-dense and sustainable produce to customers. We also offer pre-cut and processed seasonal items. Prospective farmers and customers are welcome to visit us by appointment and at our seasonal events.

Spork Food Hub exists to improve access to local food for those who need it most. By partnering with local farms and directing the produce to local nutrition programs we are making a difference by keeping these foods and dollars in our communities.Learn more about our farmers.

Spork Food Hub is the culmination of Hope and Shayne’s work in farming, education, community engagement and advocacy. We strive to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable food system that supports well being, economic empowerment and community vitality for future generations.

Farm to Fork: Locally Procured Produce from Spork Food Hub, provided by UC Davis Student Housing, May 3, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrCcj-wAMb0

in the press

  • From farm to prison

    CALIFORNIA BOUNTIFUL

    read

  • ‘A gastronomic experience’: the US schools serving local veggies and edible flowers over frozen food

    THE GUARDIAN

    read

  • No Sloppy Joes

    INSIDE SACRAMENTO

    read

  • Inside the movement to fix the broken food system

    SACRAMENTO BUSINESS JOURNAL

    read

  • Field to fork food hub one option for the big barn at The Cannery

    THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE

    read

  • From Farm to Corrections, One Harvest at a Time

    IMPACT JUSTICE

    read
Hope Sippola Farmer Closeup

hope sippola

FOUNDER


Hope Sippola is a farm-to-school leader, innovator, and educator. She has 10+ years of farming experience, specializing in intensive, small-scale mixed vegetable, pork and broiler chicken production. She has built and implemented farm-to-school programs to bring students an understanding of the environment, food systems, and nutrition. She previously worked for school garden support organizations as the Grants and Program Coordinator for Davis Farm to School. Hope has a deep passion for connecting family farms to a stable, sustainable wholesale market and enjoys helping institutions access fresh local produce. What she finds most rewarding about her work is the cultivation of meaningful and lasting community partnerships that support the common good.

Shayne Zurilgen Farmer Closeup

shayne zurilgen

FOUNDER


Shayne Zurilgen is originally from Stockton, California where he taught middle school science for many years. He spent his summers designing gardens and landscapes and later working on a cattle ranch. For seven years he was a staff member at the Boggs Tract Community Farm in Stockton. After fifteen years in the classroom, he moved to Yolo County to start a farm.  While attending the California Farm Academy (Center for Land-Based Learning) he met Hope and the two started Fiery Ginger Farm. Shayne currently lives in West Sacramento with his wife and son.

the team

jacob weiss

GENERAL MANAGER

gaia daystar

OPERATIONS MANAGER

claire woodard

PROCUREMENT

greg rubald

PROCUREMENT

eilee murray

FARM TO INSTITUTION SALES

gene braden

OPERATIONS LEAD

now hiring full time warehouse associate

Responsibilities include: delivering orders in our 16’, 20’ or 26’ box trucks, building and wrapping pallets, receiving orders and checking for quality and accuracy, implementing food safety plan, building and maintaining relationships with school district kitchen staff.

Compensation: $20-$24/hr

Qualifications: strong work ethic, close attention to details, capable of working in a fast paced environment on a team. A plus if you have worked in produce, on farms, or in a warehouse, speak Spanish, or have driven box trucks/forklifts.

Benefits: Vacation and Sick Time, Produce Share, Year End Bonus, Retirement Plan

Interested? Email a resume to jacob@sporkfoodhub.com

now hiring farm to school sales

Responsibilities:

  • Build relationships with school nutrition staff to determine needs

  • Work with our procurement team and general manager to determine pricing and volumes to forward plan with school districts as well as solicit weekly sales

  • Call school nutrition staff weekly to solicit sales and review usage/get feedback

  • Learn our Local Food Market place software

  • Work with our general manager and other sales person to identify new school customers, build relationships, and strengthen relationships with existing customers.

Compensation: salaried $70,304

Qualifications:

  • Self motivated

  • Flexible - we're growing and stretching in new ways every day!

  • Experience with school food programs and requirements a plus

  • Have a willingness to learn new things

  • Have excellent customer service skills

  • Knowledge of farming, produce, cooking, and seasonality

  • Previous sales experience a plus- but we will teach you the Spork way.

Benefits: Vacation and Sick Time, Produce Share, Year End Bonus, Retirement Plan

Interested? Email a resume to jacob@sporkfoodhub.com